Week Two: Recaps and Reactions
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
NMPreps.com At The Game
No. 4 Onate Knights (2-0) 52, No. 19 Los Lunas Tigers (0-1) 32: The No. 4 Onate Knights traveled north for the Thanksgiving break and come out with a 20-point win over Los Lunas High School.
The Knights and Tigers battled for a majority of the first quarter before the Knights applied a full court press to finish the quarter on a 7-0 run. The Knights then went on to a deciding second quarter with a 16-5 (35-17) advantage in the quarter.
Johnny McCants (W-F/2016), one of the state of New Mexico's top players started the night off early with a three of his four dunks coming in the first half.
McCants, led the way for the Onate Knights with 19-points. A feisty and young Los Lunas Tigers never backed down and were led by junior Kayden Walker with 10 points.
What We Liked
No. 4 Onate Knights (2-0): McCants was solid and he was all over the court from boarding to blocking shots but the unsung hero we really liked, not knowing going into the game, was Hunter Thomas (2017/G). A tiny little guard but he let it fly behind the arch.
The Knights pressed and it created easy buckets. Offensively they are well coached and patient when they need to be. I have always like Coach Perez coached teams but this one is different from the 2011 state title team, they are able to move in transition better and have many options. The platoon substitutions are evident to how deep they can be.
No. 19 Los Lunas Tigers (0-1): May sound weird but I liked the Tigers even in the 20-point loss. They are young but they have a few weapons of their own. Maybe not as deep as Knights, which hurt with subs during the 7-0 run.
One player I need to give more credit too is Kayden Walker. Walker has a nice hop to his game, and hit a 15 footer creating separation from the defender - looked nice. I was hoping he would take more control, maybe as the season progress he will but the Tigers lacked that "take over the game" type of player they had a few years back in Ben Romero. Mario Trujillo is another player that I left impressed with.
Extra
Recap: Tuesday Night
No. 6 Albuquerque High 79, No. 2 Rio Rancho 67: The Albuquerque High Bulldogs (1-0) went on the road to open the season and came out with a win over No. 2 Rio Rancho (0-1), 79-67. Gave Bump led the way with 24 points and Alonzo Armijo had 17 points for the Bulldogs on the night. Clay Patterson finished with 26 points for the Rams.
No 9 Cleveland 73, No. 23 Highland 46: Marcus Gibson led the way for the Storm (1-0) in the season opening win behind 20-points. It was all the Storm in this one.
No. 10 Grants 90, Farmington 67: The No. 10 Grants Pirates (1-0) opened the season at The Port with a monster win over a top team in 5A basketball in the Farmington Scorpions (0-1). The Grants Pirates were led by Matthew Vail, Richie Lucero and Michael Chambers who each finished with 16 points on the night. Clayton Corely finished with 15 points for the Scorpions.
No. 14 West Mesa 48, Sandia Prep 40: The West Mesa Mustangs (1-0) look to Adan Maldanado's 14 points in the season opening win.
No. 17 Gadsden 61, Alamogordo 42: The Gadsden Panthers improved to (5-2) on the season with a win over former district foe Alamogordo High School (2-1). Alamogordo Tigers were paced by Bishup Woodruff with 11 points.
No. 18 Rio Grande 85, Santa Fe 57: Jose Rodriguez scores 27 points for the Ravens (1-0) as they open the season with a convincing win.
No. 22 Española Valley 87, Taos 56: The Sundevils of Espanola Valley improved to (2-0) on the season with an 87-56 victory over the Taos Tigers (0-1). Leading the way for the Espanola Valley Sundevils, Marcos Flores (16 points), Joshua Salazar (12 points) and Uriah Arellano (11 points).
Manzano 64, Moriarty 38: The Manzano Monarchs (1-0) opened their season with the Moriarty Pintos (0-1) coming out with a 64-38 victory. The Monarchs had five players in double figures; Eric Sonnenberg (13), Dakota Powell (12), Braxton Bouyer (10), Dylan Chicoine (10) and Jon Salido (10).
Tucumcari 95, Floyd 43: The Tucumcari Rattlers (1-0) ranked (3rd) in Small School Division basketball opened the season with a monster win over Floyd, 95-43. John Paul Garcia finished the night with 41-points and 8 assists on the evening.
More: Week Two Top Performers | Week Two Scoreboard
Tuesday, November 24th
Albuquerque 79, Rio Rancho 67
Belen 69, Socorro 54
Bosque 42, East Mountain 31
Cleveland 73, Highland 46
Espanola 87, Taos 56
Gadsden 61, Alamogordo 42
Gallup 68, Del Norte 37
Grants 90, Farmington 67
Manzano 64 Moriarty 38
Newcomb 65, Mescalero Apache 43
Onate 52, Los Lunas 32
Rio Grande 84, Santa Fe 57
Quemado 58, Evangel Christian 48
San Juan (UT) 73, Shiprock 57
Tucumcari 95, Floyd 43
Volcano Vista 60, Sandia 48
West Mesa 48, Sandia Prep 40
Recap: Monday Night
No. 8 Sandia 63, Atrisco Heritage Academy 56: The Sandia Matadors opened the season with a 63-56 win over unranked Atrisco Heritage Academy on Monday night. The Matadors were led by Kobe Smith who finished with 24-points for the Matadors. Estevan Martinez led the way for the Jaguars of Atrisco with 20-points.
No. 16 Cibola 69, No. 25 Eldorado 56: Junior guard Desmond Carpenter led the No. 16 Cibola Cougars to a win over the No. 25 Eldorado Eagles on Monday night. Carpenter finished with a game high 22-points for the Cougars. Tanner Carter led Eldorado with 12 points.
La Cueva 58, No. 3 Valley 47: The unranked La Cueva Bears open the season with a huge, upset win over the number three team in New Mexico, 58-47. The La Cueva Bears were led by Simeon Moya who finished the night with 15-points. Anthony Chavez (Soph.) led the way for Valley with 12 points.
Hatch Valley 72, Animas 47: Michael Castillo led the way for the Hatch Valley Bears with an impressive 35-points in the win on Monday night.
More: Week Two Top Performers | Week Two Scoreboard
Tweet At Me: Highlights and Photos From the Night
Monday, November 23rd - Scoreboard
Cibola 69, Eldorado 56
Hatch 72, Animas 45
La Cueva 58, Valley 47
McCurdy 61, Santa FePrep 60
Sandia 63, Atrisco 56
Please post your reactions and thoughts from games this week here.
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
NMPreps.com At The Game
No. 4 Onate Knights (2-0) 52, No. 19 Los Lunas Tigers (0-1) 32: The No. 4 Onate Knights traveled north for the Thanksgiving break and come out with a 20-point win over Los Lunas High School.
The Knights and Tigers battled for a majority of the first quarter before the Knights applied a full court press to finish the quarter on a 7-0 run. The Knights then went on to a deciding second quarter with a 16-5 (35-17) advantage in the quarter.
Johnny McCants (W-F/2016), one of the state of New Mexico's top players started the night off early with a three of his four dunks coming in the first half.
McCants, led the way for the Onate Knights with 19-points. A feisty and young Los Lunas Tigers never backed down and were led by junior Kayden Walker with 10 points.
What We Liked
No. 4 Onate Knights (2-0): McCants was solid and he was all over the court from boarding to blocking shots but the unsung hero we really liked, not knowing going into the game, was Hunter Thomas (2017/G). A tiny little guard but he let it fly behind the arch.
The Knights pressed and it created easy buckets. Offensively they are well coached and patient when they need to be. I have always like Coach Perez coached teams but this one is different from the 2011 state title team, they are able to move in transition better and have many options. The platoon substitutions are evident to how deep they can be.
No. 19 Los Lunas Tigers (0-1): May sound weird but I liked the Tigers even in the 20-point loss. They are young but they have a few weapons of their own. Maybe not as deep as Knights, which hurt with subs during the 7-0 run.
One player I need to give more credit too is Kayden Walker. Walker has a nice hop to his game, and hit a 15 footer creating separation from the defender - looked nice. I was hoping he would take more control, maybe as the season progress he will but the Tigers lacked that "take over the game" type of player they had a few years back in Ben Romero. Mario Trujillo is another player that I left impressed with.
Extra
- No Saterfield brothers for the Onate Knights.
- No snack bar again. (sorry food critic is slacking).
- Los Lunas has a nice newly renovated gym. The entire school is different from my last visit some 5 years ago.
Recap: Tuesday Night
No. 6 Albuquerque High 79, No. 2 Rio Rancho 67: The Albuquerque High Bulldogs (1-0) went on the road to open the season and came out with a win over No. 2 Rio Rancho (0-1), 79-67. Gave Bump led the way with 24 points and Alonzo Armijo had 17 points for the Bulldogs on the night. Clay Patterson finished with 26 points for the Rams.
No 9 Cleveland 73, No. 23 Highland 46: Marcus Gibson led the way for the Storm (1-0) in the season opening win behind 20-points. It was all the Storm in this one.
No. 10 Grants 90, Farmington 67: The No. 10 Grants Pirates (1-0) opened the season at The Port with a monster win over a top team in 5A basketball in the Farmington Scorpions (0-1). The Grants Pirates were led by Matthew Vail, Richie Lucero and Michael Chambers who each finished with 16 points on the night. Clayton Corely finished with 15 points for the Scorpions.
No. 14 West Mesa 48, Sandia Prep 40: The West Mesa Mustangs (1-0) look to Adan Maldanado's 14 points in the season opening win.
No. 17 Gadsden 61, Alamogordo 42: The Gadsden Panthers improved to (5-2) on the season with a win over former district foe Alamogordo High School (2-1). Alamogordo Tigers were paced by Bishup Woodruff with 11 points.
No. 18 Rio Grande 85, Santa Fe 57: Jose Rodriguez scores 27 points for the Ravens (1-0) as they open the season with a convincing win.
No. 22 Española Valley 87, Taos 56: The Sundevils of Espanola Valley improved to (2-0) on the season with an 87-56 victory over the Taos Tigers (0-1). Leading the way for the Espanola Valley Sundevils, Marcos Flores (16 points), Joshua Salazar (12 points) and Uriah Arellano (11 points).
Manzano 64, Moriarty 38: The Manzano Monarchs (1-0) opened their season with the Moriarty Pintos (0-1) coming out with a 64-38 victory. The Monarchs had five players in double figures; Eric Sonnenberg (13), Dakota Powell (12), Braxton Bouyer (10), Dylan Chicoine (10) and Jon Salido (10).
Tucumcari 95, Floyd 43: The Tucumcari Rattlers (1-0) ranked (3rd) in Small School Division basketball opened the season with a monster win over Floyd, 95-43. John Paul Garcia finished the night with 41-points and 8 assists on the evening.
More: Week Two Top Performers | Week Two Scoreboard
Tuesday, November 24th
Albuquerque 79, Rio Rancho 67
Belen 69, Socorro 54
Bosque 42, East Mountain 31
Cleveland 73, Highland 46
Espanola 87, Taos 56
Gadsden 61, Alamogordo 42
Gallup 68, Del Norte 37
Grants 90, Farmington 67
Manzano 64 Moriarty 38
Newcomb 65, Mescalero Apache 43
Onate 52, Los Lunas 32
Rio Grande 84, Santa Fe 57
Quemado 58, Evangel Christian 48
San Juan (UT) 73, Shiprock 57
Tucumcari 95, Floyd 43
Volcano Vista 60, Sandia 48
West Mesa 48, Sandia Prep 40
Recap: Monday Night
No. 8 Sandia 63, Atrisco Heritage Academy 56: The Sandia Matadors opened the season with a 63-56 win over unranked Atrisco Heritage Academy on Monday night. The Matadors were led by Kobe Smith who finished with 24-points for the Matadors. Estevan Martinez led the way for the Jaguars of Atrisco with 20-points.
No. 16 Cibola 69, No. 25 Eldorado 56: Junior guard Desmond Carpenter led the No. 16 Cibola Cougars to a win over the No. 25 Eldorado Eagles on Monday night. Carpenter finished with a game high 22-points for the Cougars. Tanner Carter led Eldorado with 12 points.
La Cueva 58, No. 3 Valley 47: The unranked La Cueva Bears open the season with a huge, upset win over the number three team in New Mexico, 58-47. The La Cueva Bears were led by Simeon Moya who finished the night with 15-points. Anthony Chavez (Soph.) led the way for Valley with 12 points.
Hatch Valley 72, Animas 47: Michael Castillo led the way for the Hatch Valley Bears with an impressive 35-points in the win on Monday night.
More: Week Two Top Performers | Week Two Scoreboard
Tweet At Me: Highlights and Photos From the Night
Monday, November 23rd - Scoreboard
Cibola 69, Eldorado 56
Hatch 72, Animas 45
La Cueva 58, Valley 47
McCurdy 61, Santa FePrep 60
Sandia 63, Atrisco 56
Please post your reactions and thoughts from games this week here.
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